CBP at Atlanta Airport Seizes Over 160 Pounds of Ketamine from Travelers, Suspects in Custody

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport made a substantial drug bust, seizing over 160 pounds of ketamine hydrochloride. On two consecutive days, CBP personnel intercepted significant quantities of the drug arriving from Paris, France. The first seizure occurred on Oct. 11 with FOX 5 Atlanta reporting the discovery of five large plastic bags in the luggage of Daijanae Mitchell, an American citizen. Following this, on Oct. 12, Ryan Mamboula Bokomba, a British citizen, was found with seven large bags of what was identified as ketamine.

According to Customs and Border Protection, the total weight of the ketamine seized amounted to 160.9 pounds. After being found within the baggage of the accused travelers, the drugs, along with the suspects, were handed over to local law enforcement for prosecution, state CBS News Atlanta. Decided to take Daijanae Mitchell's case under its wing is the Clayton County Sheriff's Office, while Ryan Mamboula Bokomba is under investigation by the Atlanta Police Department.

The seized substance, ketamine, a medication also known as "Special K," "Donkey Dust," and "Cat Killer," is legally administered in human and veterinary medicine for sedation and pain relief. However, it's broadly misused for its hallucinogenic effects. Abusers frequently associate the drug with rave and dance club scenes, where it's often mixed with substances such as ecstasy, escalating the dangers, including overdose risks.

"Every pound of ketamine we intercept represents lives potentially saved from the devastating effects of this dangerous drug," told Zachary C. Thomas, Area Port Director for CBP Atlanta, to CBS News Atlanta. Highlighting the peril, CBP officials noted symptoms of misuse can encompass nausea, rapid heart rate, convulsions, loss of consciousness, and respiratory failure.